I love summers here in New Zealand. Everything is vibrant with colors—flowers abloom, green leaves sparkling, and even people around me seem to be more energized. Since there’s still light till 9 p.m., you can still go out for a walk even after work.

It makes me ponder about being light to others. How do I extend that sense of sight that light gives to us? How do I give a sense of buoyancy and energy that light gives? How do I extend that sense of expanse that light provides?

These are questions that perhaps each one of us who calls ourselves Christian should take time to ponder. Light provides well-being, nurture, and growth from inside that you cannot help but expand and grow. In short, light gives life. So, as Christ followers, how are we called to give life in our community, work, or home today? How can we step out of our comfort zone to live as light?

Let’s ask the Lord and heed what He says. 

Joyce Roa (jsosoban@gmail.com)

reflect

What tendencies do you have that stop you from being a child of light? How do you make the concrete step in overcoming it today?

Lord, remove everything that is of darkness in me. Grant me Your grace to live as a child of light. Amen.

St. Louise de Marillac, pray for us.

First Reading | 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13

In today’s reading, God chooses the one who becomes king. The people of Israel have had their chance when they chose Saul. This time, God chooses David. Let us look at the contrasts and see the difference between a not-so-good king and a great one. Saul looks the part from a worldly perspective, but he lacks the character to lead well. David is exactly the opposite.

¹ The Lord said to Samuel: “Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.” ⁶ As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is here before him.” ⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel: “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.” ¹⁰ In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any one of these.” ¹¹ Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.” ¹² Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance. The Lord said, “There—anoint him, for this is the one!” ¹³ Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David. 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6

R: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; ³ he refreshes my soul. (R) He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. ⁴ Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. (R) ⁵ You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (R) ⁶ Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. (R)

Second Reading | Ephesians 5:8-14

To be a child of the light is to be a good example to others in the ways of faith and morality. We are called to embrace the challenge of righteous living and to inspire others through our holy lives. Our commitment to the truth is one of the most important aspects of living and proclaiming the Gospel.

⁸ Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, ⁹ for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. ¹⁰ Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, ¹² for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; ¹³ but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴ for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

Gospel | John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 (or John 9:1-41)

Let us be careful not to ascribe medical conditions to personal sin. While we can get sick from the choices we make, we should not say that God punishes sinners with sickness. God does not do this. Some of our choices, such as smoking, cause certain illnesses. God does not give cancer to the smoker; it is smoking that causes a person to get sick.

Gospel Acclamation

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.

¹ As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. 6 He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, ⁷ and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam”(which means Sent). So he went and washed, and came back able to see. ⁸ His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” ⁹ Some said, “It is,” but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.” ¹³ They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. ¹⁴ Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. ¹⁵ So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” ¹⁶ So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. ¹⁷ So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” ³⁴ They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out. ³⁵ When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” ³⁶ He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he.” ³⁸ He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshipped him.”

Reflect

Do you believe that God punishes you with sickness and other problems? Why or why not?

Read the Bible in one year! Read GENESIS 13 - 15 today.

A Vision of Joy

It is one thing to have eyes that work; it is another thing to truly see. In today’s Gospel, Jesus heals a man born blind. His physical sight is restored, but that is only part of the story. A deeper blindness is exposed—the spiritual blindness of those who think they already see everything clearly. The Pharisees cannot rejoice in the miracle before them. They are too invested in their own judgments. Their pride blinds them more deeply than any physical ailment ever could.

Real sight, in the eyes of faith, is seeing the hidden movements of grace. It is seeing people by the dignity God has placed within them. It is learning to recognize the hand of God where others see only failure, smallness, or weakness.

Today is Laetare Sunday, a day when the Church pauses even in the desert of Lent to remember joy. We wear rose vestments, a burst of pink in a season marked by violet and penance. It is a reminder that even while we are still on the journey toward the passion, the promise of resurrection is already breaking through. Light is already shining. Healing is already happening.

Lent is the season of conversion, of learning to see again. It is a time to ask: Where have I allowed my heart to become blind? Where have pride, fear, or cynicism clouded my vision? Where have I judged based on appearances instead of looking deeper as God does?

Today, Christ invites us not just to open our eyes but to open our hearts. To let Him heal our sight. To let light, not fear, guide our steps again. For those who see as God sees cannot help but be overcome by real, unshakeable, profound joy. 

Fr. Albert Garong, SSP

reflection question

Where is God inviting you to look beyond appearances and see the signs of light and life already breaking through?

Lord, heal my blindness and teach me to see myself, others, and the world with Your eyes of mercy and hope. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _________________________________________